Proposal to rename Embu County

Manyatta Member of Parliament John Gitonga Mukunji has proposed renaming Embu County to Embu-Mbeere County.

Speaking to the media on Saturday, September 26, Mukunji said the proposal was aimed at addressing what he described as long-standing injustices faced by the Mbeere community.

He argued that the Mbeere region was less developed than other parts of the county, attributing what he described as years of neglect partly to the county’s name.

“I have given a proposal to change Embu County to Embu-Mbeere County. When you reach Manyatta, you will know you are in Embu County because there is enough water, electricity and development at large. But when you extend to Mbeere, it is marginalised,” Mukunji stated.

The MP further claimed that the Mbeere have been neglected by name, which later translates to neglect in development, hence the calls to adopt the name into the county.

“If you are neglected by name, then even in terms of development, you are neglected. That is why I have the proposal to bring equality for the whole county,” he added.

Gitonga maintains that the Mbeere area has sufficient resources, such as water that supplies much of the county, yet residents still do not have tap water.

The area also has minerals, but historical neglect has left it still struggling with development compared to other areas of Embu County.

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The lawmaker is therefore calling on the county to adopt the Embu-Mbeere name, just like Taita Taveta County, to promote equal development.

“Mbeere people have enough resources but are still neglected. With immediate effect, we will demand Embu-Mbeere County, just like we have Taita-Taveta County,” Gitonga noted.

Article 6(1) of the Constitution provides that Kenya’s territory is divided into the counties listed in the First Schedule, meaning changing a county’s official name would require a constitutional amendment. Embu is listed as County 14.

The amendment can be initiated through Parliament under Article 256, where a Bill must be passed by at least two-thirds of all members of both Houses at the required stages. 

Alternatively, Article 257 allows a popular initiative supported by at least one million registered voters. The IEBC verifies the signatures before the proposal goes to county assemblies and, if approved by at least a third of them, to Parliament.

If the proposed change falls under the matters listed in Article 255(1), it must also be approved through a national referendum. However, the Constitution does not specifically state that changing the name of an individual county automatically requires a referendum.

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